Apex court stays execution of Veerappan aides

The Supreme Court has stayed the execution of sandalwood smuggler Veerappan'saides till further orders.

The four face gallows for a landmine blast in Karnataka in 2004 that left 22 police personnel dead.

The bench posted the matter for Wednesday. "In the meantime, the execution of death sentence of four convicts shall remain stayed," a bench comprising Chief Justice Altamas Kabir and justices A R Dave and Vikramajit Sen said. "Let the writ petition be heard day after tomorrow," it said.

The petition on behalf of the four convicts was filed by advocate Samik Narain, who was given the liberty to amend and rectify it after objections were raised on its maintainability by Attorney General GEVahanvati who was asked to assist the court.

The apex court said though the petition filed by an advocate on behalf of the convicts is not maintainable, the case of 4 condemned prisoners were similar to the case of other death row convicts pending consideration of the Supreme Court.

SC's decision came after advocate Samik Narain informed the court that he has now got authorization from all 4 convicts as well as their families.

Veerappan's elder brother Gnanaprakash, Simon, MeesekarMadaiahand Bilavendran were awarded death sentence in 2004 in connection with a landmine blast at Palar in Karnataka in 1993 in which 22 police personnel were killed.

Their mercy petition was rejected by President Pranab Mukherjee on February 13.